Crews removing cracked pipe suspected in Pa. blast

ALLENTOWN, Pa. 
A section of natural gas pipe suspected of causing a massive explosion and fire that killed five people will be removed and transported to an engineering firm for analysis, a utility company official said Monday.

Workers began removing the piece of 12-inch cast-iron pipe on Monday, UGI spokesman Joe Swope said. Crews are taking their time because they don't want to lose any important evidence, Swope said.

"It's a much longer process than it might typically take," Swope said. "It's a forensic investigation."

Gov. Tom Corbett, who visited the site Monday, said the explosion shows the state needs to think about its aging gas, water and sewer lines. But he noted tight state and federal budgets could limit any large-scale examination of infrastructure.

"The pipeline here, in Philadelphia, and everywhere in Pennsylvania is old and we need to start to take a look at that," Corbett said.

The blast rocked an Allentown neighborhood Wednesday night, sparking an inferno that burned for hours while crews tried to shut off the supply of gas. A 16-year-old girl and a 4-month-old boy were among those killed.

The explosion flattened a pair of rowhouses and set fire to a block of homes in an area where the underground gas main lacked shut-off valves. Neighbors said the blast knocked shelves off walls, brought down ceilings and, in one case, ripped the front door off its hinges.

Crews working at the site of the blaze uncovered the damaged portion of pipe on Sunday, UGI CEO John Walsh said. A visual inspection revealed a break that company officials believe was the source of the gas.

UGI crews conducting routine inspections in the area reported three other small gas leaks on Sunday. No residents were evacuated, but The Morning Call newspaper reported that some opted to stay elsewhere.

On Monday, Swope said soil samples were being taken and other investigative work was being done during the pipe removal. He said the pipe will be taken to a forensic engineering firm in New Jersey for analysis.

Corbett said he planned to speak the Pennsylvania Utility Commission this week. He noted it was premature to say whether the disaster qualified for state aid, but said the state was ready to assist if needed.